Posted by Heba Mohammad on February 24, 2020 at 4:40 PM

For more information about AAI's #YallaVote Voter Protection Hotline, contact: Edy Semaan at esemaan@aaiusa.org or 202-429-9210.

February 24, 2020

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Problems at the Polls? Election Protection 2020 Hotlines and Field Programs Stand Ready to Assist Voters

Media Teleconference this Tuesday, February 25 at 11 AM EDT

WHAT:Press Callto discuss the efforts ofElection Protection 2020 to assist voters who have questions or encounter problems when voting. Election Protection is a year-round non-partisan resource for voters. For the past 19 years, the Election Protection program, the nation’s largest and longest-running voter protection program has worked to ensure that all eligible voters have access to the ballot box. Through its suite of voter protection hotlines in 11 languages, and website www.866ourvote.org, Election Protection stands ready to help voters who have questions or encounter barriers when voting.

The Election Protection coalition of more than 200 organizations nationwide and 100+ law firms, convened by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, provides critical support to voters through a suite of multiple language Election Protection hotlines and field programs organized by partners such as Common Cause and National Coalition on Black Civic Participation in 30 states. The toll-free hotlines are:

Election Protectionis the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, convened by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Through a dedicated team of trained legal and grassroots volunteers, Election Protection helps all eligible voters – including traditionally disenfranchised groups - access and overcome obstacles to voting. For more information about Election Protection, please visitwww.866ourvote.org.

About the Arab American Institute:

The Arab American Institute (AAI) is a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights organization founded in 1985 to nurture and encourage direct participation in our political and civic life, and to mobilize a strong, educated, and empowered Arab American community. As the only national organization that promotes Arab American participation in the U.S. electoral system, AAI has developed a host of services, from voter education and protection resources to facilitation of engagement with the national parties, to support the community’s activities.

In 2016, the Arab American Institute launched the bilingual Arabic/English #YallaVote Voter Protection Hotline in preparation for the first election in decades without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. In an era of rampant voter suppression, the #YallaVote Hotline has proven vital for voters across the country who call to confirm their voter registration status, to report cases of voter intimidation, to seek language support at their polling location, and more. Arabic is one of the fastest growing languages in the country and we will be ready to assist all voters. Under the leadership of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, we will again defend the sacred right to vote and join other partners at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote) to offer national voter protection hotlines to protect access to democracy for all.

The #YallaVote Voter Protection Hotline is available year-round. The #YallaVote Hotline---1-844-YALLA-US (925-5287)---is live every primary & general election day for all states for the duration of polling hours. On non-election weekdays, calls are answered from 9:00am-5:00pm ET and voicemails will be answered within 48 hours.